Tour My Kitchen with Lynette Sonne

When you've got years to plan your dream kitchen, a blank canvas to work with and expert
help to execute your vision, the end result had better be what you intended: a dream come true.
For Lynette Sonne and her boyfriend, Keith Morgan, this Paso Robles, California, kitchen is all that and then some.

"When building this house, I wanted to pair the warmth of an old barn with
the convenience of modern appliances,"
says Lynette. "Since we host parties with
anywhere from 12 to 40 guests, the room's
scale needed to accommodate large,
family-style entertaining. So the space was
designed with workstations, as I needed
a kitchen that allowed me to prep, cook,
bake and welcome friends and family."

With that in mind, Lynette, with help
from a designer and an architect, created
several areas devoted to specific tasks:

Stovetop cooking: All pots and pans
are stored within reach of the stove, as
are spoons, spatulas and ladles. "That
way, I'm not running all over the kitchen
and between guests as I put the finishing
touches on a dish," she says.

Baking: Drawers for mixing bowls,
measuring cups and a stand mixer are
located near the pull-out pantry, which
is stocked with baking ingredients.
"I host an annual baking party," says
Lynette. "Having a designated prep
space keeps the process simple."

Dish washing: "I love serving ware,"
says Lynette. "So I needed a large sink to
accommodate washing delicate pieces.
Plus, the dishwashing drawers make it easy
to wash what I need when I need to."

Of utmost importance, though, was
creating a kitchen where guests could
mingle with the host. "Everyone ends up
in the kitchen," says Lynette. "I wanted
space for people to talk while I cooked.
The island not only serves as prep space,
but also lets traffic flow through and get in
and out." And that traffic is often heading
in the direction of the wine bar.

"We enjoy collecting local wines and
sharing them, so the bar and wine fridge
were a must. House rules are, 'We'll serve
the first one, but after that it's self-serve.'
This layout makes guests feel welcome,
but also gives me space to work."